Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-03
despised cigarettes and leaned iazily back in his

harder up Sill; out once had foftune-l won't
| tell you how much, you wouldn't believe me II
did- lost it all at q game called monte. Any
coin happen TO have goes the same way; some
hope that ] may win back my lost fortune II I
had fl.OOO now would go straight to the near.
est casino and play IKE the devil; the luck would
out without a peseta."
II don't play much, said Fitzgerald, thought
| way Of turning at times, don't you know, and
have had one or two rather tight squeczes, lucky
apo you know the game Of monte7" asked Roy.
| StOn, suddenly.
~ have piayed-nos often. though It's great
ayes. II you care to come can take you-now
TO casino "a where they play higher than any
Gan right" returned Fitzgerald, getting I'D and
| stretching himself. 1--WE may as well go there as
anywhere else; We needn't play, you know-to any
| extent"
"Ever been to Monte Carlo7" said Royston, as
they crossed the Puerto del Sol.
| Eyes, often. Have your
| Rather! had my first taste OF gaming there,
years ago. For the FIRST and last time broke the
bank | went back the next day, and came out
"Curious-how luck goes" said Fitzgerald,
stopping 10 light fresh cigar. II have only had
times or so, but each time / won some hundreds /
oon't go In for that sort OF thing much.now. It's
1isky-deucsd risky. And beside, with rather
snaIweii In short, I've given up gaming-at least.
1 u
painful contraction OF mis- delicatelycut features
n was once engaged to be married. years ago. Oh,
I'm older than look. And !, too-but there!" alb
Iuptiy, ITS folly to rake up old memories. This
way, Fitzgerald"
He led the way down q dark side street, and
after several short cuts and sharp turnings they
passed through q narrow doorway and found them
selves La the card-room Of a certain casino In the
Caie De Atocha 1twaS q lOng-lOw room, brilliant
ly nghted by lamps hung from the ceiling. ON
either side OF the narrow green table, which ran
aimoSt the entire length OF the apartment, about
dimy Visible tbrovb cads of tonasco smte faces
| i've heard y said Royston In an undertone to
Fitzgerald as they entered, 'tnat the bank here Is
"a oy pretty high authority In Madrid; so
It's goOG Tor any amount"
'Oh shant risk more than tenner, If that"
| answered the other in the same tone.
There was curious stiffness In the ROOM broken
| only by the clink OF money, and the hoarse
| 'Juegov' OF the dealer, behind whose chair the
Ing the game for a few rounds ROySton ventured q
| Few peSetas and lost He tried again-a larger
sum this tlme-and again he lost. He tried again,
and yet again, increasing his stakes each time.
out with the same result. muttered curse broke
from between his teeth; then, with slight shrug
OF his shoulders he said, carlessly:
| With q lazy smile Fitzgerald backed the king,
which lay nearest him, with ten gold pieces. He
on the seven In the lower row. Again he won.
/ The cards were dealt once more, and Fitzgerald
witn eomlcal look at Royston. placed forty gold
| second card dealt.
"Goodl Go seven golpes with what you've
! all with you"
The other laughed, and placed his winnings on
/ the queen which lay on the top row. Again for
tune smiled on the TALL indOlent-lOOk1ng English
| man.
''Caramba, "muttered lank-faced old Spaniard,
/ between the puffS OF his cigarette sLos InO.eses
| son mug Jortunados"
After 'tgoing" u few more golpes, which, for the
benefit Of my uninitiated readers, ] may say is
| simply the term given In the game OF monte in
/ Spain TO doubling the stakes a given number OF
times, Fitzgerald had won what In English money
equaled about e., 500.
Snow Tor q final stroke II he said. "Pu risk all
nave won on the card nearest me, whatever IL
may De- Aud whether win or lose l shall play
| The cards were dealt In the top row were a
seven and an ace. In the lower row queen and u
The players looked eagerly 10 see which card the
| fortunate Engiishman would patroIlze. lie al
once and with all appearance OF utter indifference,
backed the seven. One or TWO followed his ex-
ample Others, thfnAing, probably, that fortune
misht prove contrary. backed var1ousy the three
remaining cards.
| The dealer slowly pulled" the cards Breathless
silence reigned. The dark races round the table
were full OF an eager, intense excitement, their
gitter!ng eyes bent upou the slowly failing pieces
Hall the pack was dealt, and as yet neither ace,
queen, knave, nor seven had appeared.
THE devil! You'll lose!" exclaimed Royston
quickly.
Fitzgerald was now looking rather excited too
foI MIN; put he only said In quiet. even tones:
The next deal wa--a seveai
He had won ,0OO.
The dealer Wi,u courteous smile hand d him
twO-thlrdS OF the amount In Sp1ui..i no e. d I'd
explained that II the * nor wouiL ALI ne would
procure tue remadner. 4 v senior acquieoced, wiiA
meanwhile the Spani ards were gesti -ulatin, tx.
! c1tedly and Gathering ike cOoniY OF rOok,
The winners we've juDllant, the loOsers mOroSe md
gloomy one young fellow, vino had staAc. III,
Last alfonso on the queen, rose and si,ggere out
| his lace like death, his eyes heavy with dl,,air
Lo, Lagse'es stool calm and silent; FIJI gerald
/ slightly flushed, koystOn very pale.
In short time the dealer returned.
! will not the Senior try az ,in?" he said as he
put the roll OF notes into Fit ,eralis hand .Su
good fortune Is to follow tlc senior lhruuQ out
the evening.
But Capt. Fitzgerald shook his head and .nur-
( nurinX a lew words In lam mt Thy Il SIsi- l.
placed his winninss In the b e,st-p. .rr y. III,
overco and, In company witA Koys sion, ,Aantertd
| He was in high spirits as they traversed the
gaily Lighted streets. koyston, on the other nand
was Faith silent and disIrait
"By J0Se!" he broke out sud lenly; 'nve thou
| sanu pOu!iS! Then with short laugh, "YOure
| a lucky feilOww
= had !. curious conviction. do you know" re-
stopped"
"Ah. there's where We differ" hid Royston,
in somewhat curt tones II couldn't have stopped
| then"
~ say. let's go to some theater" suggested F1tz.
gerald glancing at his wat h. 'Tl's early yet.
Then WEI! go back to our hotel, have cigar and
| drink. and turn 10. Aud tomorrow wen s,arl 10y
| an early train and DO the Eseuii,L"
| An hour or Two afterwaTd They were seat
| ed In tue c0nce-rDpm5 or the Fonda DE- -, Eli L.
| gerald a. usuii, with cigar bgtween his 1 -,
| and-dlsO as usual-with q lumber OF brandy al
| water at mis- elbow q he wine ne declared Ill nv
| and una fnka0le.l He did most OF the talking;
| koy,lon-who was leaning baLk In his CHAIR Ia!
hands cilSped behini his head-merely rep.yinl;
| In absent mon0sylIables. During on hit pause
In the conversation Two ,u9piciodS-looGiay i.ien-
who had been seated at SMALL Tab sii <hiIy De-
4 Lam. a,ti left
| loom.
81 say" said Royston quietly, "wouldnr 1t be rs
| well TO keep quiet about your luck FiZlerai.?
don't Ike the looks OF those two fellows" jernIng
his head eickw ard toward the door. 'Tt', nariiy
| wise TO advertise openly that you have such a
large sum OF money about you"
| "fye more than money about me- " returned Fltz-
gerald with slight smile. Il have very truSty
friend who doesn't often fail NE. No. my dear Iel-
low, don't mean you'll mean q very straight
shooting revolver"
'Oh. yes that's all very we'll" said Royston
knle into you before you could even take aim with
your revolver. knew or Inan who was MUIR
dered In hotel in this city only last year He had
some valuable jewels with hun. and he was fool
| enough 10 show them In one OF the cafes. In the
morning be was found dead In his bed-stabbed 70
the heart--and the jewels were gone"
"Pooh, nonsense, Royston. In a public hotell
The thing is absurd"
| III l. true, nevertheless, quietly.
| well. you may set your mind at rest about me- ~
Observed Capt. Fitzgerald, dryiy. "If any man
titles 10 get into my room tonight with intent 10
| rob and plumber. I'm very sorry FOR him am q
very hight sleeper, and very iair shot; and con-
slider myself quite match for any Spaniard-or
TWO Spahl4rdS-I have had the pleasure OF meet
ing 80 TAR